Computer, is my experiment finished? Researchers discuss the use of AI agents in their research

Everyone knows that the Computer--an artificial intelligence (AI)-like entity--on a Star Trek spaceship does everything from brewing tea to compiling complex analyses of flux data. But how are they used at real research facilities? How can AI agents--computer programs that can act based on a perceived environment--help scientists discover next-generation batteries or quantum materials? Three staff members at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II) described how AI agents support scientists using the facility's research tools. As a U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science user facility located at DOE's Brookhaven National Laboratory, NSLS-II offers its experimental capabilities to scientists from all over the world who use it to reveal the mysteries of materials for tomorrow's technology.